Ok, I'll admit it, my head is spinning on this one - maybe it's trip planning overload. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) I've tried to understand other threads and webpages but still am feeling insecure on the train ticket portion.

I do know what we are going to do, it's the how with which I need help. I would love to save some dough, but this is hubby's long overdue and much deserved vacation so I am trying to make things smooth and practical.

We plan to travel from CDG on Sunday 5/22 by high speed train to Brussels.

1) Is TGV the only one?

2) Return is on Friday 5/27 from Bruges, can I buy tickets a day or two before (4 of us, adults)? Can I buy them in Bruges?

3) What is the difference between first and second class besides price?

3) What kind of restrictions are reasonable? Not worried about date of travel, just time and logistics coming from US going out and from Bruges returning.

4) For the novice (that's me!), from whom is it best to buy these tickets? I seem to get slightly different info from different vendors and admittedly am a little nervous about making a huge mistake.

I think this is the last detail of the trip to plan - can't wait to get it done! Everything else is a flow and go - ahhh.

Thanks so much!
S

The high-speed train from Paris to Belgium is called Thalys.

Go to thalys.com and see if your questions are addressed. Note that there are some extremely cheap fares (with extreme restrictions) called Smilys.

Hi S,

You are better off buying tickets as early as 60 days in advance, because you can get discount fares.

I just bought 3 PREM fare tickets from Avignon to Paris for 75Euros..
Could not find any PREM fare from Nice to Avignon, but Cant complain because I paid 103Euros for 3 people.

1) Is TGV the only one?

That's what the French Railway calls their high speed trains.

2) Return is on Friday 5/27 from Bruges, can I buy tickets a day or two before (4 of us, adults)? Can I buy them in Bruges?

Yes

3) What is the difference between first and second class besides price?

Space including a little extra space for luggage, slightly more comfortable seats. Fewer locals to talk to.

3) What kind of restrictions are reasonable? Not worried about date of travel, just time and logistics coming from US going out and from Bruges returning.

I'm not sure what you mean here. Once you go through customs at CDG, you're in the EU.

4) For the novice (that's me!), from whom is it best to buy these tickets?

It depends on you. You can buy the train tickets from a travel agent or from www.raileurope.com and pay a surcharge--which may be significant. Or you can buy them online from www.sncf.com It's probably too late to get the cheapest fares there, but it still will be cheaper than RailEurope.

Thanks Mimar, by restrictions I meant restrictions on the tickets themselves. I read NO this and NO that and I was wondering what is the normal restrictions people have in ticketing ... things like penalty fee for change of reservation or such. We want to go directly from CDG and the fair quoted was something like $140 per person first class ... one way. Seemed like a lot, but maybe that's normal.

You'll undoubtedly save money traveling in Second Class but PLEASE...that old saw about their being fewer locals in First Class is nonsense IMO...what there are are fewer locals who don't wish to travel in Second Class.

Second Class will fill up faster than First (another difference) because it is more expensive.

Hi sam,

You can buy your tickets from ROISSY (95) to Brussels from www.sncf.com for 45E pp in 2cl or 92E 1cl.

You want to collect your tickets in FRANCE.